Friday, August 31, 2018

Practice Vs. Equipment

Dry fire.
Dry fire.
Dry fire.


Thursday, August 30, 2018

Patience

Patience always pays off. Sometime back, The Rifleman heard a song that spark memories from his youth. Indeed, the song was released the year that The Rifleman turned 8. However, The Rifleman never knew the name of this song. Complicating matters was the fact that the song was a one-hit wonder.

As indicated, The Rifleman heard the song again within the past few years. Given that the situation was such that it was difficult to make out the lyrics, it was impossible to type those lyrics into Google to do a quick search to find the name of the song. In fact, the situation repeated itself a couple of times over the last few years.

Then, while dining, The Rifleman heard the song again. The Establishment was a little noisy, and the lyrics were inaudible. However, the wait staff and management of the restaurant got to talking about the song...

Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Fun Pistol Qualification

Recently,  The Rifleman came across a set of standards for shooting. The  Lightfoot Militia  has a published set of standards for pistol qualification, rifle qualification, and designated Marksman qualification. Naturally, this is piqued the Rifleman's interest.

First up, pistol. 
Distance = 5 yards.
5 rounds per stage. 
Target = 8.5x11" paper.
Any shot on paper counts. 
Pass or fail: 7 or more hits = pass.

Stage 1:
From "Low Ready" place 5 shots on paper in 15 seconds. 

As you can see, this stage did not present a problem.  The Rifleman used some blue tape in the middle to help with aiming. However any shot on the paper would have counted.




Stage 2
From the holster, draw and fire 5 rounds in 5 seconds.

Easy as Pi! (Look at the time to get the pun!)




Well, as you can see, The Rifleman scored a perfect 10 out of 10 on this particular qualification. The pistol used was a Sig P320. The evaluation was performed in full kit.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Emergency Medical Care

TCCC - Traumatic Combat Casualty Care
CLS - Combat Life Saver

Both of these classes are very similar in nature. The bulk of the material overlaps. TCCC has its origins in USSOCOM, whereas CLS originated with the US Army. Both courses focus on treatment of a troop wounded in combat.

The Minuteman would be well-advised to take as many classes like this as possible. Well no blog post could even begin to be all inclusive with regards to the material presented in either course, this post will attempt to hit the highlights.

The US military, in both of these courses, states that over 90% of preventable combat casualties occur from massive blood loss. A significant portion of the rest of preventable casualties happened from Airway obstruction. So, for the record, the minute man should carry an NPA - Nasopharyngeal Airway tube.  And know how to use it. 

IFAK
This is an individual first aid kit. The contents of your IFAK are be used on you. Here are suggestions on contents:
Blowout kit - minimum contents:
(Easily accessible by either hand)
1 EMT shears
1 tourniquet
Two rolls gauze.
Two chest seals.
1 NPA

IFAK.
 1 tourniquet
 1-2 hemostatic gauze
 1-2 Pressure Bandages
 2 rolled gauze
 2 triangle Bandages
 1 NPA
 2 Chest Seals
 1 EMT shears

Hyfin chest seals. 
AED bags 
NARP S-Rolled gauze. 
Naturally, the Minuteman would be well advised to seek out professional medical advice on specific contents for his own IFAK, as well as any other Medical supplies.

Catastrophic Blood Loss
As catastrophic blood loss accounts for over 90% of preventable combat casualties, it will be the one that is focused on in this blog post. There are three major ways to treat catastrophic blood loss hyphen tourniquet application, wound packing, and chest seals.

Tourniquet Application
The Minuteman is well advised to carry one or more CAT (combat application tourniquet) tourniquets on his loadout. There are two schools of thought within the medical community as to the location of where the tourniquet needs to be applied.

A tourniquet, once applied, should only be removed by qualified medical personnel. Typically, this means a doctor in a hospital. As a rule, most nurses, paramedics, and EMTs are not qualified to remove a tourniquet.

The more traditional method is to apply a tourniquet 2 to 3 inches above the wound, and not on a joint. The rationale here is that if professional medical help cannot be reached in time, and the limb lost, then lose as little of the limb as possible.

The more recent school of thought is to apply the tourniquet all of the way up the limb. "High and tight." This comes from the Practical experience that are military has had in the global war on terror. Many servicemen, when applying a tourniquet 3 inches above the wound, we're experiencing further damage to the wound, as there might have been shrapnel or bullet fragments still inside. The tourniquets were being applied over the foreign objects, compressing them into the flesh further.

Once the tourniquet has been applied to the point of bleeding stops, the patient is now on the clock. There is about an 8-hour window during which the patient must be taken to the hospital, or else the limb will be lost.

The Rifleman suggests the "high and tight" method.

In either event,  apply the tourniquet , and wind The Windlass until the bleeding stops. Sometimes this may take 3 full rotations, or more. Please be aware that a leg - particularly a thicker leg - may require two tourniquets to stop the bleeding. Be sure to note the time of the tourniquet application, as the 8-hour window has begun - a Sharpie marker can help note the time. Alternately, you can use the patient's blood to write the time on the forehead.

Chest Seal
A person shot in the chest, or thoracic region, needs a chest seal applied. If a lung has been penetrated, there is significant risk that are conceived into the chest cavity and compress the lung. This can result in collapsed lung, and difficulty breathing.

If there is an entry wound, there may be an exit wound. Make sure to examine for both. You will need to examine both the front and the back of the patient.

The wound furthest from Gravity (with respect to how the patient will be transported) should be sealed on three sides, with the side closest to gravity left open. This allows air to escape, but not get sucked back into the chest. All other holes in the thoracic region need to be sealed on four sides.

Wound Packing
Catastrophic bleeding from a wound in a junction area (not a limb or chest, but in between - see picture above), needs to be packed with sterile gauze. You may be surprised how much gauze will fit into such a wound. Once the wound is packed as tight as can be, bandage the top of it, and of course get the patient to a hospital as soon as possible.

Non arterial bleeding on a limb can also be treated via wound packing. Again, once the wound is packed, bandage the top as best you can.

Never pack a wound to the gut. Bandage the top as best you can, and get the patient to a hospital immediately.

Summary
You really need to take as many Medical classes as you can get your hands on. A good TCCC or CLS class is well worth the money.  Some even include an IFAK as part of the tuition cost.

And always remember this rule of thumb - any class worth taking once, is worth taking twice.


Monday, August 27, 2018

Term Limits

Over the weekend, Senator John McCain from Arizona passed away.

For the sake of brevity, the Rifleman will avoid mentioning the scandals associated with McCain's military service. Additionally, for the sake of brevity, McCain's service in the US Senate can be summed up with two words - term limits.

He was a constant thorn in the side for the Right. He would vote lockstep with democrats for 5 years, then vote slightly Republican every election year in order to get reelected. Simply put, he was #GlobalistScum . Its telling when the people who were saying the nicest things about him were Bill Clinton,  Barack Obama, and CNN.

Good riddance. 

Now, let's get term limits in place so we don't have to wait for the other #GlobalistScum to die in order to get them out of office. 


Friday, August 24, 2018

The Haircut of Doom

The Rifleman was at supper recently, when he observed a young lady with the "can I please speak to a manager haircut" who was also dining. The haircut was exactly as is depicted in the memes above. The young lady was, in fact, more attractive then either of the models in the memes above.

The Rifleman observed no missteps from the server. The young lady did not seem to indicate that anything was wrong with her food, either. Nevertheless and predictably, at the end of her meal, she asked to speak with a manager.

However, this was in Memphis - the queen city of faux customer service complaints.

The Rifleman noticed the manager, as well as the exact moment when the server informed him of the lady's request. The manager, likely 10 years the senior of The Rifleman, waited a moment or two before he went to the table.

Demonstrating his superior experience, the manager did not lead off the conversation with the question, "what seems to be the trouble?" Most managers would have done that.  Instead, he waited until the ladies were in full blown conversation,  before walking up and asking, "how was everything this evening?"

"Fine," was the reply. The manager smiled and walked away. 

A few moments later, the server brought the ticket. It was promptly paid and the haircut lady and her friend left without incident. 


Thursday, August 23, 2018

Civil War 2.0

The same people who would vote for Obunghole are the same who will bring anarchy.  They must not be underestimated. There are many of them.

In their minds, they are fighting for their lives.  In a way it's true - they vote for a living.  They must take from producers in order to have anything.  That includes food, clothing, and shelter. 

A good friend of the Rifleman predicts Civil War 2.0 in 2 years or less.  The Rifleman is hard pressed to argue. 


Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Job Ghosting

The Rifleman came across an article about why job candidates should not "ghost" employers.  "Ghosting" is the term, coined by Millennials, which means to break off a relationship by discontinuing all communication.

It would seem that some job seekers are ghosting hiring managers. There is much irony here as companies have been doing this to applicants for years. 

Also, some employees have been ghosting current jobs as they presumably move to better jobs.  Again, the irony is thick, as the same employers have laid off people in the past, or just fired them with or without good reason.  No difference, really. 

The reality is that the article is 99% sour grapes. In the previous 16+ years of bad job market, employers got a bad case of "high & mighty" syndrome. As with everything in life, what goes around comes around.  Karma is a bitch for these same companies. 

The Rifleman can agree with one phrase in the article: "... job candidates and employees should learn how to say “no” gracefully..." In fact, just about everyone could use a lesson in saying "no" gracefully. But, given how many people get bent out of shape for the smallest things, I can almost understand.  Almost. 

Some of the best comments on the social media post:

This makes me laugh. I’d never dream of doing this and yet I’ve experienced the opposite several times during my current job search. Phone interviews that go great and end with “you’ll hear back about next steps by Friday”...then crickets. Unprofessional in both directions.

I've never ghosted a potential employer and I've also never had an employer tell me when I didn't get a job either. You just go in, do the interview, and then... nothing. I've gone as far as having two phone interviews, an in person interview, and then a site wide interview with the dozen or so employees only to then not hear anything.
So you're telling me, employers made ghosting a standard and acceptable practice, and then when the direction of demand switched, all of a sudden they're baffled and upset that they're getting ghosted? Truly, who could have seen it coming.

Sorry, but this cuts both ways. I’ve spent many hours completing intricately lengthy applications, writing cover letters and responding to essay prompts, only to find out later that the position was posted only to fulfill legal or internal policy requirements, and that an internal candidate was hired. These positions, in essence, were never really available at all. What goes around comes around.

Ghosting is something that employers have been guilty of for years. It's right up there with the "quota" interview they put you through when they knew who they really had in mind to hire right from the start completely wasting your time. This article should of been directed towards employers.

You mean like every company insists on you giving a two week notice to quit a job yet has no qualms about walking employees out the door with no notice?

last paragraph says “don’t hold a grudge” but earlier it says employers never forget. works both ways fellas.

This article is designed to help job seekers feel insecure. This is what the business sector has been going for for decades. When people feel job or housing insecurity, they are much easier to control. The business sector and HR departments are desperate to restore insecurity to the work force so that they can continue demanding more from employees while offering fewer benefits and lower salaries. This is how corporate profits have skyrocketed over the last decades. The goal now will be to sustain those profits at absolutely any cost. The reason 'ghosting' is a problem is that employers don't have the benefit of choosing, so no one need fear an HR manager or employer who "remembers" the ghoster. They have to take what they can get. Don't buy into the corporate scare tactics.

How is this going to ruin your career?  There’s a magic blacklist that everyone uses to see who is naughty? Lol....literally no one else outside the company and you will ever know.
(Rifleman's note: the folks who would "remember," wont be in that position in 3 years.)


Tuesday, August 21, 2018

What Kind of Training

"You're not NRA certified? That's not good.  That's bad news!"
- NRA certified pistol instructor.

There is a silent tug of war going on out there.  On one side, you have NRA certified rifle and pistol instructors, and on the other side are the "tactical" instructors. At the heart of the matter is the fact that there is no one certifying body for rifle and pistol instruction. This is a good thing.  As with all investments, caveat emptor; let the buyer beware. 

As an example, the typical NRA Basic Pistol class requires 50 rounds of ammo and is 8 hours long.  There is about 2 hours of range time, and 6 hours classroom lecture / examinations.  Meanwhile, a typical tactical pistol is 500-1000 rounds and two days of practical training.   One of these classes is good for practical application, gets people to pay $500 each, and is always full; and the other struggles to get anybody in. 

In the martial arts, disciplines such as BJJ, MMA, and boxing rarely have to advertise that they are good for self defense.  Everyone already knows this.  Meanwhile, the art or sport oriented disciplines are always saying "sure, you can use this for self defense." And usually, their techniques must be drastically altered for actual combat. 

Same with NRA classes vs. Tactical Classes.  Very few big name tactical instructors advertise that they are "NRA Certified." But the NRA certified instructors are always saying they can "teach you how to shoot your gun safely and for self defense." Well, at least one of those things are true. 

This is not a disparagement to NRA Certified instructors.  But, as with all things, caveat emptor. It may not be what you are looking for.


Monday, August 20, 2018

Push Your Limits

The Fundamental Marksmanship evaluation is simple:
Two Army 300m scaled targets placed at 25m.
5 shots on each.
90 second time limit. 

Shots in the circle score 5 points. 
Shots in the black score 4 points. 
Shots in the white score 0 points. 
If a shot touches more than one scoring area, the higher point value is awarded. 
More than 5 shots on a target? The lowest 5 scores count. 

0 - 27 points: Pro-Marksman (unqualified)
28 - 35 points: Marksman
36 - 44 points: Sharpshooter
45 - 50 points: Expert Rifleman

A few months ago, the Rifleman participated in his own Fundamental Marksmanship class (fear not - there were three well qualified RSOs on duty!). The rifle used was Lucy - the 18" SPR with a White Oak Armament match barrel, Geissele trigger, free float rail, ACOG scope, and other upgrades. 

Naturally, the Rifleman scored a perfect 50 on the evaluation.  In fact, on the 2nd evaluation, the target was stapled up at an angle (not straight up and down), a fellow participant mixed up my two magazines so the no longer had 5 rounds each (still 10 rounds total - but there were 4 in one mag and 6 in the other - unbeknownst to me), and I sprinted over 25m to my unloaded rifle when time started.  Nevertheless,  another perfect 50 was recorded.

One participant suggested it was my highly customized rifle that was the reason I shot well... so let's find out:

The Rifleman went to the range again, this time with a stock M4 in hand.  This rifle has an M4 profile barrel, is not free floated, no special trigger, and wore only a red dot sight.  The result?


Point made. 



So, the Rifleman took Lucy and put the Aimpoint on her.  Here is the result:


Another perfect 50. 



Certainly, the results with the ACOG were slightly better:




Caveats:
When I shot with the stock M4, the following conditions were true:
1. Started standing with the unloaded rifle on the ground. 
2. Completed the course of fire in 26 seconds (90 second time limit).
3. Used Military Prone instead of my preferred Olympic Prone. 
4. The evaluation was performed at the end of the day, when I was very tired. 


Lessons?
1. Scopes don't help you shoot better, they help you see better. 
2. A Rifleman doesn't need the high dollar stuff to make hits.
3. All the excuses given in classes as to why folks didn't shoot as well as they had hoped are just that - excuses. 
4. A Rifleman pushes his limits in order to grow.


Friday, August 17, 2018

License Plate Humor

My days in car rental have provided many a laugh. This is one that I've laughed at on multiple times, but have not yet put on this blog.

I was working in Dyersburg, Tennessee at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car. This location was part of the West Tennessee Enterprise operations, and most of those cars had Shelby County license tags - Memphis, TN. You don't know how many times that I had renters make a comment about the tags being Shelby County instead of Dyer County. The renters were genuinely concerned that they might get pulled over for having a tag from another County.

Many of these people never stopped to think that a license plate allows you to travel throughout all 50 states, not just your own County.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Applying For A Job

Posted by a friend on Social Media who owns a company:

A few BASIC tips for people trying to get a job with one of my companies (or I'm sure just about any company for that matter)

1. Bring your own pen to fill out an application. It shows me you are prepared.

2. Please call & bug me, even if you leave a message it shows that you're persistent. Some of my best managers & staff members bugged the heck out of us until they got an interview.

3. Change your ring back tone to a regular ring. Believe me, hearing "Back dat azz up" or "Because I Got High" in my ear when I call doesn't exactly scream professionalism nor ready to be called back by a professional about a job position.

4. Even if a company says they're not hiring when you ask, they are required to accept your application so still fill one out regardless.

5. Fill out your application completely. Filling it out 1/2 effort reflects your job.

6. Even if there's not space for it, write down your availability & make it reasonable.

7. Set up voicemail on your phone so if you screen your calls I can leave a message.

8. Don't bring a friend with you to fill out a job application. That shows you're not independent.

9. Men, pull your pants up.

10. Once called into an interview, don't tell me about your baby daddy problems, upcoming court dates, how many kids you have, your religion, etc etc. because I will not ask.

11. Check your privacy settings on Facebook & Google your name, usernames, & email addresses to see what pops up on the web. Yes, I will check all your social networks, especially your pictures. It's a free way to do a background check these days.

12. BE HONEST. If you were terminated from a job, don't lie about it, leave it off your app, or blame it on past employer. Instead, tell me what you learned from the experience, we've ALL made mistakes.

13. Don't bring your phone into the interview or at least be sure it is out of sight & on silent

14. Stop calling yourself a "people person." You gotta be more creative than that.

15. Have a professional email address. Nobody wants to hire: badchick69@ymail.com

16. Finally, never use the D word (drama). Only people who are full of it in their lives & start it actually use that term to describe people or events. Your life isn't a play & you're not an actor, this is real life.

Sincerely,

Captain Obvious


Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Pastor Locke Vs. #FakeNews

Recently, Leonardo Blair of The Christian Post wrote an article on Pastor Greg Locke of Mount Juliet,  TN. Unlike so many online tabloids, Blair did actual research and gave equal treatment to both sides of the debate. This is journalistic integrity. Certainly,  The Christian Post is no tabloid.

Following are three reasons to reject the position of Locke's naysayers.

I. The opposition's testimony is suspect.
One of the tabloids referenced in the article, says that it's purpose is "Theology, polemics, and discernment." This is problematic - on all three terms.
1. One of their primary contributors has described himself as "autistic" - and this would prevent discernment on any level. From this link:
Another common difficulty is the inability to understand body language, tone of voice and expressions that aren’t meant to be taken literally. For example, even an adult with autism might interpret a sarcastic “Oh, that's just great!” as meaning it really is great. 
2. Polemics - this word is not found in the Bible. It's definition is not the actions of a Christian,  to be sure:
noun
1.
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
"his polemic against the cultural relativism of the sixties"
synonyms:diatribe, invective, rant, tirade, broadside, attack, harangue, condemnation, criticism, stricture, admonition, rebuke
3. Theology is problematic, as well. One of the primary contributors has  engaged in behavior far worse than divorce.

II. Nobody is qualified to be a pastor.
Perry Noble wrote an excellent article on why he isn't qualified, either.
Truth is, every pastor is a sinner. Unless he is a pastor for just a half-second, every pastor also sins while in the office of pastor. Knowing that, you realize 1 Timothy 3 is a guideline for pastors to strive toward. Certainly, Pastor Locke's naysayers have also sinned. Thankfully, God is big enough to call the unqualified and use them to fulfill His purposes.

III. Marriage as defined by the US legal system is not the same as is defined by the Bible.
1. The financial contract.
It was hilarious, when the tabloid author called the Rifleman personally to discuss this post. Among the arguments he used was that certificates of divorce were issued in the Old and New Testaments; therefore US marriage and Biblical marriage are the same. The Rifleman challenges anyone to demonstrate Biblical verses dealing with divorce and specifically mentioning child support, alimony, and division of assets. Marriage in the US is a financial contract, no more.
2. Nobody was "put away."
She ran away, plain and simple. She filed for the divorce, plain and simple. Her attempt to withdraw the filing was an attempt to drag Locke through more agony, from the Rifleman's perspective. Much like the quote in this article:
Under the contract of marriage, all the duties lie upon the man and all the privileges appertain to the woman.
Let him [the husband] undertake the slightest rebellion, over and beyond mere rhetorical protest, and the whole force of the state comes down upon him .…  She is under no legal necessity whatsoever to carry out her part of the compact at the altar of God, whereas he faces instant disgrace and punishment for the slightest failure to observe its last letter.
3. Among the most harsh allegations were those of abuse.
The Rifleman challenges anyone to demonstrate public record evidence of Locke being found guilty of any of these allegations. Here's a hint - they don't exist. Thus goes back to point (I.) - the testimony of the accusers is suspect. They haven't proof of any of their claims. They are #FakeNews





Now, here are three reasons, based on fact, to support Locke's side. Furthermore, they are reasons to attend  Global Vision Bible Church - in person or online.

I. Biblical Preaching.
Locke preaches straight from the (KJV) Bible. Verse by verse.

II. Radical Compassion.
So many members of this church are "broken," and are 100% welcome. Truly, Locke knows where they come from - it takes one to know one. "Where broken people people find new meaning to life," isn't just a catchy phrase... it is the truest statement about the church.

III. Extravagant Generosity.
You would not believe the amount this church gives. Both in terms of amount of money, and amount of time.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Who Trains

Three percenters. Patriot movement. Prepper group. Militia. Oath keeper. These are but a few names of patriot groups who train all across our great nation. #Libtard tabloids, like "ThinkProgress," as well as the liberal biased government alphabet agencies classify all of these groups as "militias." And, while that term is overly simplified, we shall use it today as they do - A catch-all name for these groups.

Within these Patriot groups, there are three major types of members. First, are the members who do not attend Group Training. Second, are the members who occasionally attend Group Training. Third, are the members who frequently attend Group Training.

Those who frequently attend Group Training are serious about preparation. Very very few of these are the "wackos." These are the people who just really enjoy preparation and training. It's their thing. Kind of like a runner who likes to run.

Those who attend Group Training occasionally - these folks have other priorities, and this is still fine. However, life gets in the way. There priorities are elsewhere. They may have kids that play sports, or some other activity that they themselves do. This is just fine. In fact, is true of every optional activity.

The third Group - those who never attend group training classes - are a mixed bunch. Some are simply keyboard Warriors. Some like the idea of being part of the group, but just don't want to actually do those things. For some, life truly gets in the way. For some, they just have too many other priorities. This is where the bulk of the wackos are- wackos almost never train. Ironically, this is the group of people who get the most angry when their feet are held to the fire for group training requirements. It's classic projection - if you know anything about that.


Monday, August 13, 2018

Training Excuses

When it comes to taking classes that will help someone in their personal and family preparedness, an instructor will often find that people give excuses as to why they cannot attend. By far, the three most common excuses are lack of time, lack of money, and too much distance. Of course, all excuses boil down two single fact - the class in question is not a priority for that person.

In several 3% groups, The Rifleman has seen these excuses used over and over. There is much irony here, as The Rifleman hears these excuses at the same time as he is scheduled to attend a $600 class with an instructor of note that will require many hours to travel to.  Oh, and this class is scheduled on the birthday of one of The Rifleman's children. 

So let's look at these excuses in detail:

1. Don't have the time. 
If you don't have the time now, when will you ever have the time? Again, if it is a priority, you will make the time. Again, The Rifleman is scheduled to take a class on his child's birthday.  No class time is ever convenient. Perhaps, the person who uses this excuse would be better served by saying "I have other priorities."

2. Don't have the money. 
Like time, if something is worthwhile, you will find a way to afford it.  The Rifleman has witnessed people say they didn't have $25 to take a class.  How on earth would this person find funds to prepare??? The Rifleman is scheduled to take a class that was $600, plus 1000 rounds of ammo (another $500 or so). Again, the person who uses this excuse would be better served by saying "I have other priorities."

3. The class is too far away. 
The Rifleman is reminded of a former martial arts student who complained the dojo was 3 minutes away from their home. Some people really do think everything should be in their back yard.  The Rifleman is scheduled to take a class that is many hours' from home.  In fact, the Rifleman has never attended a gun class less than an hour and a half from home.  Again, a person who uses this excuse would be better served by saying "I have other priorities."

Friday, August 10, 2018

Don't Talk To The Media

Don't talk to the media.  They aren't your friend.  From an article by  Vox Day -

1. Always be polite and smile.
2. Simply don't return calls, or if they get your number, say no thank you and hang up.
3. If you are rude, shout at them, be a smart ass, or are anything but polite, they now have their story about you.
4. Their final attempt may be an ambush where walking out of your home where you are harrassed with a microphone in your face. If this happens, ask who they are, where they work, and what they want. Then repeat while smiling, "You seem very nice, but I can't talk right now as I have to get to an appointment. I have your number and will call you later. Thank you. You seem nice." Walk backwards a little, keep saying how nice the journalist is. Then leave and never speak to them again.

NEVER say "No Comment". No Comment = guilty.

NEVER yell at them. They will play that clip 1000 times a day.

NEVER be rude. They will let the world know.

Tell them how nice and wonderful they are and they have NO STORY. The goal is for them to have NO STORY.

They will simply make up a story anyhow, but they will have to do so without any quotes or an interview. It will therefore be limited in its effectiveness.


Thursday, August 9, 2018

Church Gossip Gets Served

A friend shared this joke on social media:


Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several members did not approve of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence & distance. She made a mistake, however, when she accused Frank, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon.   She emphatically told Frank, (and many others), that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing!

Frank, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny.He simply said nothing.   Later that evening, Frank quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house, walked home and left it there all night.


Wednesday, August 8, 2018

How It Is Figured

"That socialist, Phis Bredesen, is going to trounce Marsha Blackburn for the Senate seat this fall!!!"
- a Facebook rant by someone the Rifleman has met.

To be fair, this mindset is very prevalent.  Indeed, even  The Tennessean is stating much the same:
"Most signs point to a close race. The political website Real Clear Politics gives Bredesen a 4.5 percentage-point advantage over Blackburn, based on an average of polling in the race."

But below, in the same article, the Tennessean gives numbers that parlay a different story. 610K votes for Blackburn (84.5%),  348K for Bredesen (91.5%).   Almost a 2:1 ratio - 1.75:1 to be more precise.

In 2016, Trump beat Hillary in Tennessee: 1.517M votes (60%) to 867K (35%). That's 1.75:1 - the exact same ratio.  Virtually every presidential, gubernatorial, and senatorial election the last 10 years in Tenneessee has been a 60% - 35% win for the Republican. 

Following Bill Mitchell in 2016 as he predicted the Trump win - virtually state by state - taught the Rifleman a lot. Namely, primaries, prior elections, and percentages are important.  

The Rifleman predicts Blackburn to win with about 60% of the vote, compared to Bredesen's 35%. Book it. 


Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Bad Apples

This meme is so valid, it needs saving. 

Here is the Link.

And here is the post, quoted for you:
Whenever the topic of police brutality comes up, people always say "it's just a case of a few bad apples." But the expression is not "a few bad apples are really annoying" or "one bad apple makes the others look bad." It's "one bad apple SPOILS the bunch."
That's why farmers get rid of bad apples. They don't defend bad apples. They don't give bad apples promotions. They don't let bad apples take early retirement with full pensions. They throw them out to protect the good ones.
If police departments want the respect of the public, they have to earn it by showing us they actually care about their product. Until then, it's perfectly reasonable to assume the whole barrel is spoiled, and the farmer doesn't care.


Monday, August 6, 2018

Tennessee Highway Patrol Quotas

From  this article -


A Lewis County judge admits he's dismissed a high number of Tennessee Highway Patrol tickets.


Judge Mike Hinson said he thinks the city of Hohenwald is over-patrolled. On Dec. 28, 2017 he even dismisses tickets at a traffic stop.

The article, and accompanying video details how the judge came across a traffic stop, and dismissed the ticket as soon as it was issued.  This judge dismissed half of the over 2000 THP tickets written in 2017. 

Of particular note, this is the comment from the THP trooper when the dismissal happens:
"That is very disturbing, we don't have a quota at all. It is disturbing and it undermines what the THP does as far as our mission to promote and encourage self compliance for people to wear their seat-belts," said Lt. Miller.

"Don't have a quota???"
The Hell you say!!!


Why is this true, then???



Or, put another way:


Imagine where we would be if firemen had a quota like cops?!?!




And, since we are on the subject of tickets:



Friday, August 3, 2018

Cool Pictures

Some pictures from a recent hotel stay. 



And here is one from a recent vacation visit. This was an A-10 Warthog taking off.



Thursday, August 2, 2018

Morning Musings

Hey, #Libtards
What happens if an illegal immigrant uses a straw in a sanctuary city?

Dan Rather: Trump criticism of media is "straight out of Orwell"
Rifleman: What an idiot. In the book, 1984, the government controlled what the media put into print. There is control of the media as Orwell predicted, but it certainly isn't coming from the Trump administration.  #DeepState
#Libtard

Did you know that "Democrat" spelled backwards is "asshole?"
Hey, if they can make shit up, so can we!!

Why is it that Democrats think Super-delegates are fine, but they have a problem with the Electoral College?

When you say there's a "right" to free stuff...
You're saying it's ok to force someone else to provide that stuff. 
This is the definition of slavery.

The most realistic part of Harry Potter is he goes to school to learn skills he can’t use in the real world. 🤔


Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Focus Your Efforts

One of The Rifleman's Jiu-Jitsu students relays this story:

A man wished to go see the Buddha. The Buddha was on a mystical Island. So the man dedicated 50 years of his life to meditation. Through meditation, the man learned how to levitate.

When he felt he had mastered the skill of limitations, the man levitated across the water to the island. Introduce himself to the Buddha, and said, " I meditated for 50 years, and learned how to levitate. I use the ability to levitate to cross the water so that I might meet you."

The Buddha replied, "the ferry costs a nickel."


The Moral of the story, of course, is to seek the most efficient way of doing things. The Jiu-Jitsu student in question is a nutritionist. He will meet with clients who have restricted calories and exercise their tails off to lose 30 pounds in a year. He says that's asinine, he can show them how to lose 30 pounds in a month.

"Absorb what is useful. Reject what is useless."
- Bruce Lee

"Maximum efficiency with minimum (required) effort."
- Jigoro Kano

"Only a great fool thinks these lessons only apply to the martial arts."
- The Rifleman